Rear-axle housing



35 vention relates.

latented Aug. l3, 1926.

(1,594,434 TENT OFFICE.

.Iomv T. Tamm, or Lansnve, MICHIGAN, assIeNon To GENERAL ItoTons coaroaaTIoN, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, .a coaroaaTIoN or DELAWARE.

` BEAR-AXLE HOUSING.

Application led November 26, 1923'. Serial No. 677,016.

housing, and for 4supporting the ball or equivalent bearings which in turn support the outer ends of the driving axles, all as will hereinafter and at length appear. A further object of my invention is to provide 15 an improved arrangement and relationship of the brake supporting discs or plates whereby said member acts also to holdthe outer, rear axle bearings in place relative to the ends of the axle housing or casing; and

2 a still further object is to provide improved spring pads or supports for supporting the springs whereby the frame and bodyv of the vehicle are supported from the rear axle housing.

.25 VVit-hthe.l above and Vother objects of in-v vention in view my invention consists in the features associated with rear axle housings illustrated in the drawing 'which accompanics and forms a part of this specification, and hereinafter described lin detail and particularly claimed; and insuch variations and modifications thereof, within the scope of the concluding claims, as will be-obvious to those skilled in the art to which my in- Referring now to' the Adrawing:, l

VFigure 1 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation showing about one-half of a rear axle housing having various fea- O tures and parts associated 'therewith in accordance with'my invention;

Figure 2 is a view corresponding with Figure 1, but showingthe parts in plan;

Figures 3 to 6 inclusive are fragmentary views showing various modified forms of my invention to be hereinafter described separately; v y

Figure a vertical transverse K line 7, 7, Figure 3. y l It will be appreciated that one end only -of a rear axle housing and associated parts and features is illustrated and that while the following description is in the singular 5 number, the elements and features of con-l 7 is a view showing-a -section upon` plane indicated by the struction referred to in each particular case are duplicated at the two ends of the rear axle housing.

The rear axle housing or casing with which my invention is associated is shown as made up of upper and lower halves 9, 10 U-shaped or semi-circular in cross section, and which parts are secured together along a longitudinally extended seam 11 by welding the meeting edges of the parts together; the two parts being formed from suitably shaped wrought iron or mldsteel sheet metal blanks bent and shaped, 'as by the use of suitable dies, so thatthe resulting casing comprises an enlarged central portion 12 having oppositely disposed openings closed by a support for the differential gearing, not shown, and by a cover plate; said housing ing lfrom said enlarged central portion and through which the axles 14\which drive the vehicle wheels extend; all as is usual in rear axle constructions of the type to which my invention relates, one only of the axles and tubesiv being shown as the drawing shows only about half `the rear axle assembly as Iabove explained.

The reference numeral 14 designates an annular disc or plate which is ixedly secured to a wroughtmetal flange of the outer having also tubular end portions 13 extendsov end of the tubular portion and which is restrained from rotary movement because of .its being thus secured to the axle housing,

which is itself incapable of rotation; and

which plate. carries the brake band or equivalent member lwhich cooperates .with the brake drum 15 which rotates with the wheel,

not shown, this construction being the samel for both the rear wheels ofthe vehicle, as

will be appreciated.

Heretofore the connection between the disc or plate and the rear axle housing'has commonly been provided by securing the disc to a comparatively' masslve sleeve made Y from cast or malleable iron, the sleeve being in turn secured to the outer end of the axle housing by suitable l'fasten'ing` members'such as bolts or rivets. Thecast metal member thus employed,'however, has been objectionable because of its considerable weight to provide requisite strength, and its inordinate cost due to the fact that various boring, turningand likemachine tool operations had to be performed uponit; and objectionable even to a greater degree the joint between the parts could not be made continuous and homogeneous throughout 1ts entire area as it was impossible to form a welded joint between the cast metal `from which the sleeve was formed and the wrought metal-- of mild steel used in making the axle housing. My invention, therefore, contemplates the discarding the cast metal sleeve heretofore usuall employed and in establishing a be made by the .use of suitable dies by familiar metal shaping and drawing operations, and at a much les/s cost than an equivalent cast metal member; and said ange, be` ingl of wrought metal can-when it is not integral with the axle housing be welded thereto; thus providing a stron er joint between the parts than is secured y a riveted joint necessary when a-cast metal sleeve is employed in providing 'a connection between the axle housing andthe brake supporting discs.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 va flange 16 extends outwardly from the tubular portion 13 and relative to the axis thereof, and is substantially radial; although my invention is not limited to a ange extending exactly at right angles to the tubular member. The inner edge of the annular brake carrying disc 14 is astened to this fiange by suitable bolts or l' rivets, and likewise extends outwardly from the tubular member and is` referably disposed radially or substantia ly at ri ht angles theretoA The flange 1 6 in this orm of my invention is formed as an integral part of a wrought metal member which is so shaped, as by the use of suitable dies, as to j. provide a cylindrical bearing seat 17 which receives the outer ball race of a ballbearing of ordinary form, and to` providealso -a neck portion 18 of such internal form and size as to receivethe end of the tubular portion 13' of the axle housing. Finally the wrought metal member made up of the flange, the bearing seat and the neck portion is welded to the end of the tubular .portion along one or more circumferentially extending joints 19, 20; one inside and the other outside the axle housing in this particular embodiment of my invention.

The wrought metal combined flange and bearing-seat member when made separately 'from the axle housing (which is the preferredplan, as inthat case the member may be more readily and accurately formed than I whenv the iange and seat are integral with the housing) need not necessarily t upon the outside of the tubular extension 13, as in the form of my inventionabove described. Thus in Figure 3 I have illustrated a form of my invention in which the flange 21 and cylindrical bearing seat- 22 are'formed from a wrought metal blank by subjecting itto suitable die shaping operations; and the end of the tube 13 is expanded at 23 and so shaped as to receive the cylindrical hearing seat 22 within its enlarged outer end. The combined langeandseat member is then secured to the axle housing by welding it thereto along a circumferentially extending seam at 24. i

Figure 4. illustrates a form of my invention wherein a wrought metal'flange 25 extends outwardly from a cylindrical bearing seat 26, both of which are integral with the housing tube 13; said parts being formed by upsetting and expanding the end of the tube, and so shaping it as to provide said elements. In this form of my invention ,there is obviously no welded joint between' the flange and bearing seat member and the tubular portion ofthe axle housing.

Figure 5 illustratesa form of my invention wherein the outer end-'of the tubular portion 13 is flared to provide a flange 27 to which the annular brake supportin disc or plate 28 isfastened as by suitable olts; and wherein the bearing seat 29 is formed in a separate suitably shaped member which is independent of the axle housing and of ,the

flangel to which the brake carrying disc is secured. In vthis form of my invention the bearing seat is outside the brake carrying disc, while in the forms heretofore described it is Y. inside said disc at the oint where said disc is fastened to the ange whereby it is supported, as will be ap` preciated.

Fi in w ich the outer end of the tubular portion 13 of the housing is expanded to` provide a flange 30 to which the inner edgeof theV brake supportingl disc 31 is fastened,

lmuchas in the form illustrated in Figure '4; but in which the bearing seat 32, instead of being formed directly in the wall of the tube, is formed in a separate member having a fiange 33 which lies between the ange 30 and the inner'edge of the disc 31 when the parts are assembled; this-being a method of. construction as above explained whereby the flange for supporting the brake, discand thel bearing'seat may be more conveniently and accurately formed than when said elements re 6 shows a form of my invention are integral with`the axle housing; andv formed from a material of dierent thick-v ness,

or having diierent characteristics from those inherent in the material of thelaxle housing. InA all cases, however,

the axlebined with maximum strength and facilityv of manufacture in all cases; and `to provide for the welding of the flange and bearing cseat member to the axle housing in cases where the said member is forme'das apart separate and distinct from the axle housing.

The inner periphery of the annular disc or plate which supports the brake preferably extends'inward from the bearing seat and over the samI to an extent suiiicient to prevent movement of the bearing along the driving axle in onepdirection, as shown at 34, and an inwardly extending shoulder 35 is also provided to prevent movement of the bearing in the other direction The seats to which the springs for supporting the frame and body of the yehicle are secured are likewise made from suitably shaped wrought metal blanks bent and shaped to provide substantially flat portions 36 extending beyond the tubular portion 13 of the housing both in front and to the rear thereof, and side portions or plates 37 having centrally located curved seats fitting closely to the periphery of said tube. In the form of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 these seats are welded to the axle housing along jointsv 38 where the curved seats contact with the housing; While in Figures 3 and 7 the side plates areprovided with outwardly extending flanges 39 curved to fit the periphery of the housing tube 13 and secured thereto by rivets 40, as will be appreciated. vThese spring supports are usually arranged upon the under side ofthe axle housing and the springs drawn. upward against them by U-shaped clamps extending about the axle housing in accordance with the usual practice in low swung vehicle bodies; although the supports may obviously be upon the upper' sides of the axle housing,- in which case the springs are supported upon' them as distinguished from drawn up against them. The springs and clamps for securing them to the. seats andl to the axle housmg/are' however not shown as my Invention relates to the seats themselves irre-- spective to their arangernent relative to the springs. ,f

Having thus described and explained my invention I claim and' desire to secure by 1. In combination, a rear axle housing formed from wrought metal and having .a tubularA portion through which a driving axle extends; a radially extending wrought metal flange and a cylindrical bearing seat integral with one another, and separate from said housing and 1secured to the outer end of the tubular portion thereof; and an annular outwardly extending brake supporting disc secured to said iange and the inner periphery of which disk overlies the .bearing seat aforesaid.

2. In combination, a rear axle housing formed from Wrought metal and havin a tubular portion through which a driving axle extends; a wrought metal member having a bearing seat and a flange, and which member` is welded to the end of the tubular portion aforesaid; and an annular brake supporting disk secured to said flange and extending outwardly from said bearing seat and relative to the axis of said tubular p01'- tion) A 3; In combination, a rear axle housing formed from wrought metal andhavin a tubular portion through which a drivlng axle extends a wrought metal member having a flange extending substantially radially relative to the axis of said tubular portion, and a cylindrical bearing seat integral with' said flange, and whichmember is welded to the end of the tubular portion aforesaid; and an annular brake supporting disc secured to saidfflangey and extending outwardly therefrom, and .the linner periphery of which disc overlies the bearing seat afore- ,i

said. v y

4. In combination, a rear axle housing formed from wrought metal and havin 'a tubular portion `through which a drivlng axle extends; and a spring supporting member formed from wrought-metal and having a substantially flat portion, and side por-v tions integral with said flat portion and spaced apart from one another and having recesses fitting the periphery of Vsaid tubu- `lar portions, andy which side portions are in 5' 1o 'theform of plates Y.arranged edgewise relative o said rear axle housing, and correspond in thickness with the thickness of said Hat portion; said Aside .portions being` welded lto said tubular portion along -the joints between the edges of said recesses and said tubular portion.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

JOHN T. TRUMBLE. i 

